Grand Valley Power Wildfire Mitigation Infrastructure Upgrades

planned

Grand Valley Power is undertaking wildfire mitigation efforts including installing electronic reclosers that can shut off power in emergencies, replacing older lines with larger materials, increasing conductor spacing, deploying fault indicators, and converting overhead lines to underground lines in high-risk areas. The utility secured a Colorado Energy Office grant to convert about three-quarters of a mile of line to underground in the Vega Reservoir area, with a project cost of approximately $250,000. They also planned a federal grant-funded project to bury 4.1 miles of power lines in the Mesa Lakes area, though it is currently under evaluation due to cost increases and grant requirement changes.